Shloka 47

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

ततः स्नानर्ं प्कुर्वीत दन्तधावनपूर्वकम् / मुखे पर्युषिते नित्यं भवत्यप्रयतो नरः

Transliteration

tataḥ snānarṃ pkurvīta dantadhāvanapūrvakam / mukhe paryuṣite nityaṃ bhavatyaprayato naraḥ

Translation

ثم ينبغي أن يُؤدَّى الاغتسال الطقسي (سْنَانَ) بعد تنظيف الأسنان أولًا. فإن بقي الفم يوميًا على حالٍ عتيقٍ غير مُطهَّر، صار الرجل غير لائقٍ ومُهمِلًا في الطهارة والانضباط.

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) = ‘ततः/then, thereafter’

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• प्रकुर्वीत: should perform
• प्रकुर्वीत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• दन्तधावनपूर्वकम्: preceded by tooth-cleaning
• दन्तधावनपूर्वकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + धावन (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (स्नानम् इति कर्मणः)

• मुखे: in the mouth
• मुखे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• पर्युषिते: stale/overnight (unclean)
• पर्युषिते: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + उष् (धातु) → पर्युषित (कृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th), एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘stale/kept overnight’ (मुखे इति अधिकरणे)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) = ‘always’

• भवति: becomes/is
• भवति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अप्रयतः: careless, unrestrained
• अप्रयतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + प्रयत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; विशेषण (नरः)

• नरः: a man/person
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śauca (cleanliness) as a prerequisite for right conduct and ritual fitness; negligence begins with small lapses.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥ-śauca and bahiḥ-śauca as supports for sattva and steadiness of mind (citta-śuddhi).

Application: Establish a morning sequence: tooth-cleaning → bath; avoid beginning japa/puja/food with an unclean mouth.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: domestic/ashrama space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213 (sadācāra/ācāra context: snāna, ācamana, bhojana-vidhi)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of daily purity (śauca) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links spiritual readiness with basic śauca: bathing and cleansing the mouth/teeth first, implying that neglect of daily cleanliness leads to laxity and ritual unfitness.

How does this verse connect to Garuda Purana guidance on dharma and rites?

Garuda Purana emphasizes proper conduct and ritual eligibility; maintaining a clean, non-stale mouth and performing snāna supports disciplined nitya-karma and prepares one for sacred acts performed with purity.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin the day with oral cleansing and bathing (as feasible), treating cleanliness as part of self-discipline—supporting clarity, restraint, and readiness for prayer or any dharmic practice.